NOW CLOSED: Tesco’s Naturally Powered (antibacterial spray or non-bio washing powder) product testers review thread

[AnnMumsnet]

This thread is for the 1000 Mumsnetters who are trying out the Naturally Powered range of cleaning products by Tesco.

If you don't know about these products, here's what Tesco has to say:

"In the past, green cleaning products have been let down by their performance. Working closely with a team of chemists, scientists and environmental experts, we have created the Naturally Powered range of eco cleaning products - specially formulated to have a reduced impact on the environment than other leading products and with the cleaning performance you'd expect."

Mumsnetters have been testing either the antibacterial spray or the non-bio washing powder. In addition, all testers received a trial-sized sachet of washing up liquid.

If you are a tester, please state which product you were testing and answer the questions below - feel free to also add any other comments you may have.

Everyone who adds their comments to this thread will be entered into a prize draw, where one person will win £200 of Tesco vouchers.

Questions:

Q1. What was your opinion of the Naturally Powered products before using them?

Q2. After using the products, what was your over all opinion? Did the products work? Were you happy with the performance? Did you like the smell and feel of the products?

Q3. How did the products compare to your usual cleaning products? Did it work just as well, better or worse than the products you usually use?

Q4. How important are the green credentials of the Naturally Powered range to you? Would this affect your decision to buy? If so, why? If not, why not?

Q5. Will you continue to buy the Tesco Naturally Powered range? If so, why? If not why not?

Q6. What, if any, improvements would you make to the Naturally Powered products you were testing?

Q7. If it came up in conversation, would you recommend the products to a friend? If so, why? If not, why not?

Thanks and good luck with the prize draw!
MNHQ

I tested the antibacterial spray.
Q1 - I like the idea of using eco friendly products.
Q2 - I was really pleased with the product, it cleaned well and smelt really nice.
Q3 - It cleaned as well as my usual product, but I preferred the smell of the tesco Naturally Powered cleaner.
Q4 - Although I don't always buy products due to their green credentials, this was definately a benefit.
Q5 - I will buy again if the price is right.
Q6 - The only improvement is that the bottle does leek badly if it falls over so must be stored upright. Also a lot of product is despensed with the trigger spray so hasn't lasted as long as some other products.
Q7 - I would recommend if it came up in conversation. In fact my friend did comment how nice the spray smelt.

Thanks for allowing me to test!

Q1. What was your opinion of the Naturally Powered products before using them?
Not aware of them.

Q2. After using the products, what was your over all opinion? Did the products work? Were you happy with the performance? Did you like the smell and feel of the products?

Didn't dissolve on a 30 or 40 degree wash. At least 50% left in drawer. Perfomance not totally rubbish but not as good as my normal non-bio power. ( asda sensitive). Clothes still had food markings on - have toddler. Smell ok not offensive but not amazing.

Q3. How did the products compare to your usual cleaning products? Did it work just as well, better or worse than the products you usually use?

Not as well - see above. Didn't have any negative effect on my daughters sensitive/ eczema skin which is a good thing.

Q4. How important are the green credentials of the Naturally Powered range to you? Would this affect your decision to buy? If so, why? If not, why not?

Effectiveness of product and value for money much more important. Would not pay more for a greener product as think you can be green in other ways (use Eco wash cycle etc)

Q5. Will you continue to buy the Tesco Naturally Powered range? If so, why? If not why not?

No as didn't clean well enough.

Q6. What, if any, improvements would you make to the Naturally Powered products you were testing?

Needs to dissolve better as maybe if the full amount of powder got to the clothes the cleaning performance would improve.

Q7. If it came up in conversation, would you recommend the products to a friend? If so, why? If not, why not?

No but I can't recall ever having a conversation about laundry! Doesn't work and I think there are better products available green or otherwise.

I'm just popping back to say that I find the fragrance lasts ages and is really very nice indeed. It seems to hang around and smell fresh. Even DH noticed it.

Very good indeed.

I tested the non bio washing powder.

Q1. I was sceptical about getting results from them.

Q2. The smell was lovely: fresh. The fell was really nice actually, usually I use Fairy, Persil or Tesco liquids but I think the softness was an improvement on all of them. I even used the same softener so it was a fair test as far as that was concerned!

Q3. The washing powder worked as well as any of the liquids I regularly use, I usually use Tesco, Fairy or Persil. Whichever is on offer.

Q4. Not my highest priority, but it is nice to know that you can get good cleaning results and save a little on pollution for my children's generation (and beyond) to contend with!

Q5. If it is the best value.

Q6. I like a liquid detergent, don't like powder clogging up/build up in my washing machine.

Q7. Yes, I have no reason not to. Although I haven't paid the price so it would depend on what value it gave as well as great cleaning results.

Q1. What was your opinion of the Naturally Powered products before using them?
Hadn't heard of them

Q2. After using the products, what was your over all opinion? Did the products work? Were you happy with the performance? Did you like the smell and feel of the products?
I had the cleaning spray, it was good, smelt lovely without such a strong chemical odour than my usual products. Performance was good. Packaging is very non-descript and my bottle leaks so I've kept it in the bag it was packaged in.

Q3. How did the products compare to your usual cleaning products? Did it work just as well, better or worse than the products you usually use?
It works as well as the products I would normally use but smells nicer.

Q4. How important are the green credentials of the Naturally Powered range to you? Would this affect your decision to buy? If so, why? If not, why not?
Performance and price would be influencing factors but I would prefer to buy products that are effective and also have green credentials as this seems to have.

Q5. Will you continue to buy the Tesco Naturally Powered range? If so, why? If not why not?
Not keen on the leaky bottle but would probably give it another try on the basis that I could just have a duff bottle. If it was an ongoing problem I don't know whether I'd continue to buy it.

Q6. What, if any, improvements would you make to the Naturally Powered products you were testing?
Improve the bottle, it feels a bit flimsy and mine leaks.

Q7. If it came up in conversation, would you recommend the products to a friend? If so, why? If not, why not?
Would recommend it as a good product that I've tried but would probably mention it more if the bottle were better.

Q1. What was your opinion of the Naturally Powered products before using them? I wasn't aware they existed.

Q2. After using the products, what was your over all opinion? Did the products work? Were you happy with the performance? Did you like the smell and feel of the products? The smell of the washing was lovely and I wasn't sure about using a powder since they can somethimes clog up the washing machine detergent draw but it worked really well.

Q3. How did the products compare to your usual cleaning products? Did it work just as well, better or worse than the products you usually use? I would say they worked just as well.

Q4. How important are the green credentials of the Naturally Powered range to you? Would this affect your decision to buy? If so, why? If not, why not? I usually try to buy greener products so it is quite important to me. I don't like the thought of lots of chemicals going in to my children's clothes and also in to the environment so prefer to go green if possible.

Q5. Will you continue to buy the Tesco Naturally Powered range? If so, why? If not why not? I think we probably will.

Q6. What, if any, improvements would you make to the Naturally Powered products you were testing? You can always improve on the price of things ;)

Q7. If it came up in conversation, would you recommend the products to a friend? If so, why? If not, why not? Yes, I liked the products and they are easy to get hold of. I loved the little paper measuring cup. We have a few around the house which the boys play with but it is great that the paper ones can be recycled more easily.

Q1. What was your opinion of the Naturally Powered products before using them?
I hadn't heard too much about them, but the brand sounded good.

Q2. After using the products, what was your over all opinion? Did the products work? Were you happy with the performance? Did you like the smell and feel of the products?
Yes it worked really well and I was confident with the protection against bacteria, it smelt nice and wasn't too soapy or anything.

Q3. How did the products compare to your usual cleaning products? Did it work just as well, better or worse than the products you usually use?
I think about the same as Dettol/Milton, although I must admit that I would still seem to trust them brands more, not sure why just that they have proven history I suppose.

Q4. How important are the green credentials of the Naturally Powered range to you? Would this affect your decision to buy? If so, why? If not, why not?
They are quite important to me and if the product worked just as well then I may be inclined to buy. But my main priority would be the effectiveness of the product against germs as having two small children this is the most important thing for me.

Q5. Will you continue to buy the Tesco Naturally Powered range? If so, why? If not why not?
Maybe, depends how it differs in price to my usual brand. Maybe once my children are a little older I may focus less on germs etc.

Q6. What, if any, improvements would you make to the Naturally Powered products you were testing?
None, was very good, I just think it is a hard market to try to get people with children to switch antibaterial products that safeguard family health.

Q7. If it came up in conversation, would you recommend the products to a friend? If so, why? If not, why not?
Yes I would as I believe the product works well and has a great ethos. A lot of my friends would be very interested in this product :-)

Q1. I had not heard of the range as we do not have a large Tesco near by.

Q2. I tried the cleaning spray. I was impressed by the clean and fresh smell which had no nasty chemical overtones that I really despise. It helped leave the bathroom shiny but was totally ineffective on the limescale that our hard water leaves. However this was no worse than other similar cleaning products. Whether it actually killed germs as claimed is anyones guess.
The washing up liquid was fine though I prefer my current Ecover product for the scent and performance.

Q3. The cleaning spray worked no better or worse than other spray products of this kind. However it was not much more effective than using a microfibre cloth and water, although presumably it has better germ-killing properties. It's scent was certainly better than mainstream products but comparable to other eco type ranges. I liked it.

Q4. The green credentials are important to me. With a young family and sensitive skins I feel it is important to choose products for the immediate improvement of the home environment and that of the longer term health of our planet. I liked the idea of them steering away from environmentally damaging palm oils but I didn't feel the packaging informed me about much other of the advantages of this spray over others. I would always choose from the eco range as long as I felt the claims were substantiated and cleaned effectively.

Q5. I would consider the spray cleaner if I was shopping in Tesco. However will stick with Ecover for washing up liquid.

Q6. More information about how this product lives up to it's green claims on the packaging.

Q7. Possibly would recommend on the basis that the non-chemical scent made me feel good about using it, but would prefer to endorse it if I had more information about it's green-ness.

Hi there - I have been testing the antibacterial spray
Q1. What was your opinion of the Naturally Powered products before using them? Not aware of them even though I often shop at Tesco

Q2. After using the products, what was your over all opinion? Did the products work? Were you happy with the performance? Did you like the smell and feel of the products? Felt the spray cleaned well but didn't like the smell at all.... rather bleachy.

Q3. How did the products compare to your usual cleaning products? Did it work just as well, better or worse than the products you usually use? Compared well ... unfortunately smelt worse.

Q4. How important are the green credentials of the Naturally Powered range to you? Would this affect your decision to buy? If so, why? If not, why not? Green credentials are important, as long as it cleans well.

Q5. Will you continue to buy the Tesco Naturally Powered range? If so, why? If not why not? Probably won't buy again due to smell and also the bottle... if you hold it lower than the neck the liquid dribbles out of the top!

Q6. What, if any, improvements would you make to the Naturally Powered products you were testing? Improved fragrance and packaging (see above)

Q7. If it came up in conversation, would you recommend the products to a friend? If so, why? If not, why not? No (see above)

I had a Tesco Naturally Powered spray to test and I love the liquid itself, but the bottle quite frankly is shit rubbish!

If you squeeze the bottle when it is supposed to be closed/off, the liquid still squirts out as Nemo (my 3 yr old son) found out last night.

I am the only who has a bottle that does this? Luckily I was with him at the time.

I am now almost at the bottom of my box of washing powder, and I have to say it is irritating me immensely that every time I use it, I have to lift the plastic bag out of the box, in order to scoop out the requisite amount of powder. This makes it a really fiddly, faffy kind of product - compared to my usual 'open bottle/pour into dispenser' kind of product.

On this basis alone - sorry, I won't be buying this product.

After using the bottle of spray for a few weeks the plastic bottle and spray is not fairing well.

It wont screw on properly and the spray keeps failing - rubbish really.

Have also found it seems to irritate my skin.

I am with BIWI on the bottom of the box of powder problem.

Not user friendly

Well, I tipped the powder out of the plastic bag but I am still having issues getting to the bottom of the box because the cup thing only just fits and it is fiddly.

Reading the above and going off my own experience of dangerous packaging (when you think about it) Tesco won't be getting my vote either.

I hope that they take note of the anti-bac spray's failings. It's not safe to leave around in 'off' mode. Not very good really Mr Tesco.

Washing Powder

Q1. What was your opinion of the Naturally Powered products before using them?

To be honest I didn't trust them to be effective.

Q2. After using the products, what was your over all opinion? Did the products work? Were you happy with the performance? Did you like the smell and feel of the products?

The washing powder worked as well as my normal brand, I liked the smell but felt that the clothes didn't come out as soft as normal - a little bit 'crunchy'!

Q3. How did the products compare to your usual cleaning products? Did it work just as well, better or worse than the products you usually use?

Just as well, though I prefer liquid washing detergent to powder. I found that the powder didn't dissolve in the drawer especially well.

Q4. How important are the green credentials of the Naturally Powered range to you? Would this affect your decision to buy? If so, why? If not, why not?

The green credentials would not be at the top of my list of priorities to be honest, price, smell and whether or not it worked would all be more important to me.

Q5. Will you continue to buy the Tesco Naturally Powered range? If so, why? If not why not?

I would buy it if it was an acceptable price and in liquid form.

Q6. What, if any, improvements would you make to the Naturally Powered products you were testing?

Liquid form.

Q7. If it came up in conversation, would you recommend the products to a friend? If so, why? If not, why not?

Yes because I liked the smell.

I'm also nearly at the end of the washing powder. I've found it to be very effective but also echo what others have said about how awkward it is to get to the bottom of the box - instead you have to lift out the bag and fiddle about with the cup. Really faffy and not well thought out at all.

Questions (I tested the washing powder):

Q1. What was your opinion of the Naturally Powered products before using them?

I'd never heard of them before - I was aware of Ecover and know a number of people who use it, but wasn't aware of any other Eco brands.

Q2. After using the products, what was your over all opinion? Did the products work? Were you happy with the performance? Did you like the smell and feel of the products?

Smell and feel were good, and stain removing powers not bad (with a 9 month old and 2 year old we have a lot of stains!) However, I did find that the powder clogged up the drawer of my machine the first time I used it, which wasn't great.

Q3. How did the products compare to your usual cleaning products? Did it work just as well, better or worse than the products you usually use?

I normally use Fairy non-bio and this product was nearly as good - save for the clogging problem.

Q4. How important are the green credentials of the Naturally Powered range to you? Would this affect your decision to buy? If so, why? If not, why not?

The green credentials of the product are important and might affect my decision to buy. In the past I have bought based on habit and price rather than on eco-friendliness, but this is something I might change.

Q5. Will you continue to buy the Tesco Naturally Powered range? If so, why? If not why not?

I would if I was in a Tesco which stocked the product, but I generally shop in Sainsbury's and have only a small local Tesco.

Q6. What, if any, improvements would you make to the Naturally Powered products you were testing?

I would make sure the clogging issue was resolved. Also, the box/cup was a bit fiddly and the cup wasn't especially durable.

Q7. If it came up in conversation, would you recommend the products to a friend? If so, why? If not, why not?

I would definitely mention that the product was available and that I had found it worked well.

I tested the spray cleaner.

Q1. What was your opinion of the Naturally Powered products before using them?

I'd never heard of the range, so didn't have an opinion.

Q2. After using the products, what was your over all opinion? Did the products work? Were you happy with the performance? Did you like the smell and feel of the products?

I didn't find that I had enough of the washing up liquid to form an opinion really. And I used it on a really greasy baking tray so it was a bit of an unfair trial, I thought! However, it seemed to cope pretty well - the bubbles didn't all disappear the instant they came into contact with grease which is what I have found with ecover washing up liquid. Nice lemony smell.

The spray smelt nice, too. Cleaned well - I did door handles etc after a vomiting bug (thanks DD), the outside of the kitchen cupboards, and DH did the bathroom. But, to be fair a damp cloth would clean just as well - it is the anti-bac effect which I used the spray for and of course, it is impossible to detect the efficiency of that...

I also attempted to clean the grimiest most disgusting kitchen you could possibly imagine - we've just moved into a house previously owned by swamp-dwellers it seems - and the product failed miserably. However, so did the multitude of other Mr Muscle, grease-busting, random sprays I threw at the problem, so no surprise there. (In case anyone is interested, Cif cream was the Dog's b*cks).

Q3. How did the products compare to your usual cleaning products? Did it work just as well, better or worse than the products you usually use?

Until moving into the aforementioned grotty abode, I usually used white vinegar for most things, with some bleachy loo stuff. So the spray was on a par with my normal products I would say. And since I have become au fait with a diverse range of sprays, I'd say that the natural spray still cleaned just as well as the others I have tried (apart from the grease walloping Cif, of course).

Q4. How important are the green credentials of the Naturally Powered range to you? Would this affect your decision to buy? If so, why? If not, why not?

I like to be green, hence the usual vinegar cleaning. If I was in the market for a cleaning spray, I'd definitely buy this, but as I already use vinegar, which is cheaper, I'll probably stick with that.

Q5. Will you continue to buy the Tesco Naturally Powered range? If so, why? If not why not?

As mentioned above, no particular reason apart from that I already use something just as good, but cheaper (vinegar). I might buy it if it were in special.

Q6. What, if any, improvements would you make to the Naturally Powered products you were testing?

None.

Q7. If it came up in conversation, would you recommend the products to a friend? If so, why? If not, why not?

Possibly, because I know that many people would not be happy using just vinegar, so I would recommend this as an alternative. I have to say that it would be unlikely to come up in conversation though TBH.

Hope that helps! Thanks for sending me the spray.

a PS: The washing powder cannot cope with muddy clothes, it transpires...(son back from 4 day hiking and walking trip with school. In the rain...)

It's fine for 'normal clothes washing, but just doesn't get really dirty stuff clean.

Q1. What was your opinion of the Naturally Powered products before using them?

Didn't really have an opinion on them.

Q2. After using the products, what was your over all opinion? Did the products work? Were you happy with the performance? Did you like the smell and feel of the products?

The washing powder has a very strong smell, which in my opinion contradicts the green image of the product. It washes reasonably well.

Q3. How did the products compare to your usual cleaning products? Did it work just as well, better or worse than the products you usually use?

There wasnt any real difference to my usual washing powder.

Q4. How important are the green credentials of the Naturally Powered range to you? Would this affect your decision to buy? If so, why? If not, why not?

The green credentials are important to me, if the price is close to the cost of the supermarket main brand cost I would consider buying the product.

Q5. Will you continue to buy the Tesco Naturally Powered range? If so, why? If not why not?

It really depends on the cost.

Q6. What, if any, improvements would you make to the Naturally Powered products you were testing?

Why is there such a strong smell in the washing powder, I am sure it's not necessary.

Q7. If it came up in conversation, would you recommend the products to a friend? If so, why? If not, why not?

Probably, depends on the friend.

Tbh the more i'm using the washing powder the more p*ed off I am with it.

It just cannot get out any marks at all. Ds is blw so yes I am aware his clothes do get stained sometimes but this stuff doesn't get out any food marks at all.

Definitely wouldn't buy again. A lot of his things are now ruined.

MyDogShitsMoney get them in the sun, it should bleach out all tge stains.

The sun is an amazing bleach - I'm always surprised (and a little scared :o)